PHILIPPINE LAWS ON DISASTER MANAGEMENT

● Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010- RA 10121

o The act provides for the development of policies and plans and the implementation of
actions and measures pertaining to all aspects of disaster risk reduction and
management
▪ Good governance
▪ Risk assessment and early warning
▪ Knowledge building and awareness raising
▪ Reducing underlying risk factors
▪ Preparedness for effective response
▪ Early recovery
o National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.
▪ Chairperson: Secretary of the Department of National
CARLITO GALVEZ JR.
▪ Vice Chairperson for Disaster Preparedness: Secretary of the Department of the
Interior and Local Government (DILG) EDUARDO ANO
▪ Vice Chairperson for Disaster Response: Secretary of the Department of Social
Welfare and Development (DSWD) REX GACHALIAN
▪ Vice Chairperson for Disaster Prevention and Mitigation : Secretary of the
Department of Science and Technology (DOST) RENATO SOLIDIUM JR
▪ Vice Chairperson for Disaster Rehabilitation Recovery: Director-General of the
National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) ARSENIO M.
BALISACAN
▪ The National Council’s members shall be the following:
● Secretary of the Department of Health (DOH);
● Secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources
(DENR);
● Secretary of the Department of Agriculture (DA);
● Secretary of the Department of Education (DepED);
● Secretary of the Department of Energy (DOE);
● Secretary of the Department of Finance (DOF);
● Secretary of the Department of Trade and Industry (DT!);
● Secretary of the Department of Transportation and Communications
(DOTC);
● Secretary of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM);
● Secretary of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH);
● Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA);
● Secretary of the Department of Justice (DOJ);
● Secretary of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE);
● Secretary of the Department of Tourism (DOT);
● The Executive Secretary;
● Secretary of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process
(OPAPP);
● Chairman, Commission on Higher Education (CHED);
● Chief of Staff, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP);
● Chief, Philippine National Police (PNP);
● The Press Secretary;
 ● Secretary General of the Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC);
● Commissioner of the National Anti-Poverty Commission-Victims of
Disasters and Calamities Sector (NAPCVDC);
● Chairperson, National Commission on the Role of Filipino Women;
● Chairperson, Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council
(HUDCC);
● Executive Director of the Climate Change Office of the Climate Change
Commission;
● President, Government Service Insurance System (GSIS);
● President, Social Security System (SSS);
● President, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth);
● President of the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP);
● President of the League of Provinces of the Philippines (LPP);
● President of the League of Cities of the Philippines (LCP);
● President of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP);
● President of the Liga ng Mga Barangay (LMB);
● Four (4) representatives from the CSOs;
● One (1) representative from the private sector; and
● Administrator of the Office of Civil Defense.
● Risk Reduction and Preparedness Equipment Protection Act- RA 10344
o An Act Penalizing The Unauthorized Taking, Stealing, Keeping Or Tampering Of
Government Risk Reduction And Preparedness Equipment, Accessories And Similar
Facilities
o Prohibited Acts.
▪ The government risk reduction and preparedness equipment, accessories and
other vital facility items, or parts thereof shall, at all times, be protected and it
shall be unlawful for any person to commit any of the following acts:
● Steal, or take, or possess any of the equipment or any part thereof;
● Sell or buy stolen equipment or any part thereof;
● Tamper, dismantle, or disassemble equipment or any part thereof;
● Attempt to commit any of the abovementioned prohibited acts; and
● Benefit from the proceeds or fruits of any of the abovementioned
prohibited acts knowing that the proceeds or fruits are derived from the
commission of said prohibited acts.
● Children’s Emergency Relief and Protection Act- RA 10821
o Integrates environmental education in school curricula at all levels, whether public or
private, including in barangay (village) daycare, preschool, non-formal, technical
vocational, professional level, indigenous learning and out-of-school youth courses or
programs.
o Environmental education covers environmental concepts and principles, environmental
laws, the state of international and local environment, local environmental best
practices, the threats of environmental degradation and its impact on human well-
being, the responsibility of the citizenry to the environment and the value of
conservation, protection and rehabilitation of natural resources and the environment in
the context of sustainable development.
o The Eight (8) components of the CEPC are:
▪ Establishment of evacuation centers;
 ▪ Establishment of transitional shelters for orphaned, separated and
unaccompanied children, which must include gender-specific emergency
latrines, bathing cubicles and hand-washing facilities specifically designed for
children;
▪ Assurance for immediate delivery of basic necessities and services, with priority
given to the specific health and nutrition needs of pregnant women, lactating
mothers, newborn babies, children under five years old and children with
disabilities;
▪ Enforcement of stronger measures to ensure the safety and security of affected
children to prevent child trafficking, child labor and other forms of exploitation.
Children will also be given priority during an evacuation because of a disaster or
other emergency situation;
▪ Delivery of health, medical and nutrition services;
▪ Creation a plan of action to bring affected children back to school;
▪ Establishment of child-friendly spaces, defined by the law as "spaces where
communities create nurturing environments for children to engage in free and
structured play, recreation, leisure and learning activities;" and
▪ Promotion of children's rights by teaching both children and emergency
responders what to remember during disaster situations
● Climate Change and Environmental Laws
o Climate Change Act of 2009- RA 9729
▪ An Act mainstreaming climate change into government policy formulation,
establishing the framework strategy and program climate change, creating for
this purpose the Climate Change Commission, and for other purposes.
▪ Policies:
● Afford full protection and advancement of right of the people to
healthful ecology
● Adoption of the Philippine Agenda 21 framework
● Fulfill human needs while maintaining quality of natural environment
for current and future generations
● Principle of common but differentiated responsibility
o Precautionary Principle
o UNFCCC objectives
o Hyogo Framework for Action Adoption of strategic goals to build
national and local resilience to climate change-related disasters
change-
● Recognition of vulnerability of local communities
o Recognition of most vulnerable g sectors: the poor, women,
children
● Participation of national gov’t, LGUs, business NGOs local LGUs
business, NGOs, communities in responding to adverse impacts
o Gender-sensitive, Pro-children, Pro-poor perspective
● State recognizes that Climate Change and DRR are closely interrelated
are interrelated and effective DRR will enhance Climate Change
adaptive capacity
● State integrates DRR into Climate Change programs and initiatives
● Climate Change Commission
o Independent and autonomous body
 o Sole policy-making body of the policy- government tasked to
coordinate, monitor and evaluate CC programs and action plans
o People’s Survival Fund Act- RA 10174
▪ An Act establishing the People's Survival Fund to provide long-term finance
streams to enable the government to effectively address the problem of climate
change.
▪ Amending for the purpose Republic Act No. 9729, otherwise known as the
'Climate Change Act 2009', and for other purposes.
▪ The People's Survival Fund
● A long-term finance stream to enable the government to effectively
address climate change.
▪ The law guarantees an annual PHP1bn (USD 22.2m) fund.
▪ Activities supported through the fund include
● Adaptation activities in water resources management, land
management, agriculture and fisheries, health, infrastructure
development, natural ecosystems including mountainous and coastal
ecosystems
● Improvement of the monitoring of vector-borne diseases triggered by
climate change, and in this context improving disease control and
prevention
● Forecasting and early warning systems as part of preparedness for
climate-related hazards
● Institutional development, for the LGUs in partnership with local
communities and NGOs, for preventive measures, planning,
preparedness and management of impacts relating to climate change,
including contingency planning, in particular, for droughts and floods in
areas prone to extreme climate events
● Strengthening or establishing regional centers and information
networks to support climate change adaptation initiatives and projects.
▪ The fund may also serve as a guarantee for risk insurance needs for farmers,
agricultural workers, and other stakeholders.
o The Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Act of 1997- RA 8435
▪ An Act prescribing urgent related measures to modernize the Agriculture and
Fisheries sectors of the country in order to enhance their profitability, and
prepare said sectors for the challenges of globalization through adequate,
focused and rational delivery of necessary support services, appropriating funds
therefore and for other purposes.
▪ The State shall empower the agriculture and fisheries sectors to develop and
sustain themselves.
▪ The State shall ensure the development of the agriculture and fisheries sectors
in accordance with the following principles:
▪ Poverty Alleviation and Social Equity
● The State shall ensure that the poorer sectors of society have equitable
access to resources, income opportunities, basic and support services
and infrastructure especially in areas where productivity is low as a
means of improving their quality of life compared with other sectors of
society.
▪ Food Security
 ● The State assure the availability adequacy, accessibility and affordability
of food supplies to all times;
▪ Rational Use of Resources
● The State shall adopt a rational approach in the allocation of public
investment in agriculture and fisheries in order to assure efficiency and
effectiveness in the use of scarce resources and thus obtain optimal
returns on its investment;
▪ Global Competitiveness
● The State shall enhance the competitiveness of the agriculture and
fisheries sectors in both domestic and foreign market;
▪ Sustainable Development
● The State shall promote development that is complete with the
preservation of the ecosystem in areas where agriculture and fisheries
are carried.
● The State should exert care and judicious use of the country's natural
resources in order to attain long-term sustainability;
▪ People Empowerment
● The State shall promote people empowerment by enabling all citizens
through direct participation or through their duly elected chosen or
designated representatives the opportunity to participate in policy
formulation and decision-making by establishing the appropriate
mechanisms and by giving them access to information; and
▪ Protection from Unfair Competition
● The State shall protect small farmers and fisherfolk from unfair
competition such as monopolistic and oligopolistic practices by
promoting a policy environment that provides them priority access to
credit and strengthened cooperative-based marketing systems.
o Clean Air Act - RA 8749
▪ An Act providing for a Comprehensive Air Pollution Control Policy and for other
purposes.
▪ Comprehensive air quality management policy and program which aims to
achieve and maintain healthy air for all Filipinos.
o Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000- RA 9003
▪ An Act providing for an Ecological Solid Waste Management Program, creating
the necessary institutional mechanisms and incentives, declaring certain acts
prohibited and providing penalties, appropriating funds therefore, and for other
purposes.
▪ Provides the necessary policy framework, institutional mechanisms and
mandate to the local government units (LGUs) to achieve 25% waste reduction
through establishing an integrated solid waste management plan based on 3Rs
(reduce, reuse and recycling).
o Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004- RA 9275
▪ An Act providing for a Comprehensive Water Quality Management and for other
purposes.
▪ Aims to protect the country’s water bodies from pollution from land-based
sources (industries and commercial establishments, agriculture and
community/household activities).
 ▪ It provides for a comprehensive and integrated strategy to prevent and
minimize pollution through a multi-sectoral and participatory approach
involving all the stakeholders.
o National Environmental Awareness and Education Act, 2008.- RA 9512
▪ An Act to promote environmental awareness through environmental education
and for other purposes.
▪ This Act provides for the promotion of environmental awareness through
environmental education which shall encompass environmental concepts and
principles, environmental laws, the state of international and local environment,
local environmental best practices, the threats of environmental degradation
and its impact on human well-being, the responsibility of the citizenry to the
environment and the value of conservation, protection and rehabilitation of
natural resources and the environment.
o Renewable Energy Act of 2008- RA 9513
▪ An Act promoting the development, utilization and commercialization of
renewable energy resources and for other purposes.
▪ The Renewable Energy Act provides the framework, system, and rules for the
private sector to invest in renewable energy and its production and delivery to
the public.
▪ The Act aims to entice the private sector to enter into an infant industry which
has potential for good returns and at the same time has great economic
benefits to the country.

INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM

Incident
● A violent event or the occurrence of dangerous or exciting things • Civil Defence - The damage
at a localized point within a limited area.

Incident Management
● A systematic approach for the command, control and management of an emergency incident
applied at the emergency scene that is designed to keep order and follow a sequence of set
guidelines.

Incident response (IR) process

● Focuses on detecting or attempting to detect and evaluate the level of severity of unexpected
events
● IR process should contain or resolve incidents
● If not possible to contain or resolve, other elements of contingency planning process are
activated

Principles of Incident Response and Disaster Recovery

● Incident response process consists of:
○ Preparation
○ Detection and analysis
○ Containment
 ○ Eradication and recovery
○ Post-incident activity

Incident Command System (ICS)

● A model for command, control, and coordination of emergency response at the site level.
● Provides guidance for how to organize assets to respond to an incident and processes to
manage the response through its successive stages (concept of operations).
● All response assets are organized into five functional areas:
○ Command
○ Operations
○ Planning
○ Logistics
○ Administration/Finance

● Why use the incident command system?

○ The same ICS structure can also be used to coordinate site support at an Emergency
Operations Centre or regional/provincial support activity, or national support activity.
● Who uses the incident command system?
○ Municipal Police
○ Ambulance Services
○ Fire Services
○ Airport Authorities
○ Transport Authorities
○ Food Inspectors
○ Border Services
○ Health Providers
 ○ Industry Military First Nations Groups Hospitals Labor Unions Sheriff Services
Correctional Centers Schools Shopping Centers
● Incident Command System Core Concepts
○ Common terminology - use of similar terms and definitions for resource descriptions,
organizational functions, and incident facilities across disciplines.
○ Integrated communications - ability to send and receive information within an
organization, as well as externally to other disciplines.
○ Modular organization -response resources are organized according to their
responsibilities. Assets within each functional unit may be expanded or contracted
based on the requirements of the event.
○ Unified command structure - multiple disciplines work through their designated
managers to establish common objectives and strategies to prevent conflict or
duplication of effort.
○ Manageable span of control - response organization is structured so that each
supervisory level oversees an appropriate number of assets (varies based on size and
complexity of the event) so it can maintain effective supervision.
○ Consolidated action plans - a single, formal documentation of incident goals, objectives,
and strategies defined by unified incident command.
○ Comprehensive resource management - systems in place to describe, maintain, identify,
request, and track resources.
○ Pre-designated incident facilities - assignment of locations where expected critical
incident-related functions will occur.

Members of ICS Team

i
● Incident Commander
○ In charge of the organization’s on-scene response
○ Maintain command until public agencies arrive and assume command or when relieved
at start of next operational period
○ Assess the situation
○ Order warning of persons at risk or potentially at risk to take appropriate protective
actions
○ Notify or verify internal teams, departments, public agencies, regulators, contractors
and suppliers have been notified
○ Appoint others to incident command positions as needed
○ Brief staff on current organization and activities; assign tasks; schedule planning
meeting
○ Determine the incident objectives and strategy; identify information needed or required
by others; ensure planning/strategy meetings are held and attend as needed
○ Coordinate activities with the EOC; identify priorities and activities; provide impact
assessment for business continuity, crisis communications and management
○ Review requests for resources; confirm who has authority to approve procurement;
approve all requests for resources as required
:
○ Provide information to and coordinate with crisis communications or media relations
team
○ Terminate the response and demobilize resources when the situation has been
stabilized
● Safety
○ Identify and assess hazardous situations; prevent accidents
○ Prepare safety plan; ensure messages are communicated
○ Stop unsafe acts; correct unsafe conditions
○ Liaison
○ Point of contact with outside agencies and companies
○ Monitors operations to identify inter-organizational problems
● Public Information
○ Notify spokespersons and Crisis Communications Team
○ Develop information for use in media briefings
○ Obtain IC’s and management approval for all news releases
○ Conduct periodic media briefings
○ Arrange for tours, interviews and or briefings
○ Monitor and forward useful information to the media
● Operations
○ Manage all tactical operations during the incident
○ Assist in the development of the operations portion of the Incident Action Plan
○ Ensure safe tactical operations for all responders (in conjunction with any assigned
Safety Officer)
○ Request additional resources to support tactical operations
○ Expedite appropriate changes in the operations portion of the Incident Action Plan
○ Maintain close communication with the Incident Commander
● Planning
○ Conduct and facilitate planning meetings
○ Supervise preparation of the Incident Action Plan
○ Determine need for technical experts from within the company or outside as well as
specialized resources to support the incident
○ Coordinate with business continuity and senior management teams
○ Assemble information on alternative strategies and plans
○ Assess current and potential impacts on people, property, environment
○ Compile and display incident status information
● Logistics
○ Provides resources to stabilize the incident and support personnel, systems and
equipment:
○ Workspace or facilities for incident management staff
○ Media briefing center
○ Transportation
○ Communications equipment
1. ●
○
○
○
Food, water, shelter and medical care
Ensures Incident Command Post and other facilities have been established as needed
Assesses communications needs and facilitates communications between
teams/personnel/agencies
○ Attends planning meetings; provides input to Incident Action Plan
○ Provides updates on resources (availability, response time, deployment)
○ Estimates and procures resources for the next operational period
Finance/Administration:
○ Manages all financial aspects of the incident
○ Provides financial and cost analysis information as requested
○ Create accounts for claims and costs; coordinates with Logistics
○ Tracks worker time and costs for materials and supplies
○ Documents claims for damage, liability and injuries
○ Notifies risk management/insurance to initiate claims reporting
○ Provides incurred and forecasted costs at planning meetings
○ Provides oversight of financial expenditures, new leases, contracts and assistance
agreements to comply with corporate governance
 CARE OF CHILDREN DURING DISASTERS

Children depend on daily routines: They wake up, eat breakfast,

go to school and play with friends. When emergencies or
disasters interrupt this routine, children may become anxious. In
a disaster, they'll look to you and other adults for help. How you
react to an emergency gives them clues on how to act. If you
react with alarm, a child may become more scared. They see our
fear as proof that the danger is real. If you seem overcome with
a sense of loss, a child may feel their losses more strongly.

Be aware that after a disaster, children are most afraid that

● The event will happen again.
● Someone will be injured or killed.
● They will be separated from the family.
● They will be left alone.

Preparing Children
● Teach children how and when to call for help.
● Check the telephone directory for local emergency phone
numbers and post these phone numbers by all telephones.
● Even very young children can be taught how and when to
call for emergency assistance. Help your child memorize
important family information.
● Children should memorize their family name, address,
phone number and name of school and or/early childhood
centre.
● They should also know where to meet in case of an
emergency. Some children may not be old enough to
 memorize the information.
● They could carry a small index card that lists emergency
information to give to an adult or babysitter.

After a disaster
● Keep the family together. While you look for housing and
assistance, you may want to leave your children with
relatives or friends. Instead, keep the family together as
much as possible and make children a part of what you are
doing to get the family back on its feet.
● Children get anxious, and they'll worry that their
parents/guardians won't return. As adults, we should walk
in a manner that places us between the traffic and the child.
As much as possible we should never expose our child to
the dangers of moving traffic, and never place children in
the front seat of vehicles (even outside emergency and
disaster situations.)
● Encourage children to talk. Let children talk about the
disaster and ask questions as much as they want. Encourage
children to describe what they're feeling. Listen to what
they say. If possible, include the entire family in the
discussion

PEOPLE WITH DISABILITY DURING DISASTERS

● Many people will have a disability, either short-term or

permanent, that will limit their ability to move around.
● Disabilities manifest themselves in varying degrees.
Everyone needs to have a plan to be able to evacuate a
building, regardless of his or her physical condition. When
preparing for a disaster, we must consider carefully all
aspects and categories of disabilities.
● The Five General Categories of Disabilities
○ Mobility Impairments
 ○ Visual Impairments
○ Hearing Impairments
○ Speech Impairments
○ Cognitive Impairments
● Important reminders for Persons with Disabilities during
disasters
○ If in a wheelchair when the earthquake begins, lock
your wheels
○ Keep service animals with the person in a safe place at
home, or take them with you to a shelter. (SERVICE
ANIMALS ARE USUALLY ALLOWED IN A
SHELTER)
○ Install at least one smoke detector on each level of
your home, outside sleeping areas. Install a system
with flashing strobe lights for the hearing impaired.
○ Find the location of and learn how and when to
disconnect main utility cutoff valves and switches in
your home during an emergency.
○ When traveling, know the types of disasters that
threaten the area you will be visiting. Let the hotel or
motel front desk know of your possible needs in case
of an emergency. Describe the type of help you may
need. Inform friends, family and/or your network
members of your travel plans, when you will leave and
when you will return.

Disaster Preparedness for People With Disabilities

● Home Health Care and Home Bound Patients
○ Build a support team of people who are usually in the
same area as you, and can help you in an emergency if
necessary.
○ The real first responders in an emergency are often
your neighbors, friends and co-workers.
○ Build support teams with many people at every place
 where you spend a large part of your day: at work,
home, school, or volunteer site. This is especially
important when it is hard to predict who will be where
you are at any given time.
○ Practice with different people to figure out who will
best be able to help you. Look for people with the
following qualities: Strong, Calm, Listens well,
Communicates clearly, Can guide you safely, and
Attends to important details.
○ Work with people who are dependable and have the
physical and emotional ability to assist you reliably.
● Buddy Systems and Attendants: Do Not Rely on One
Person
○ Do not depend on any one person.
○ If you rely on personal assistance services (attendants),
they may also not be available when you need them.
○ Therefore, it is important that your support team
include other people.
● Plan Multiple Ways to Give and Get Information
○ Different communication systems work differently. In
an emergency, some may work when others fail. The
more
○ systems you have available to you, the more likely it is
that you will be able to contact other people. Means of
○ communications include:
■ E-mail
■ Internet
■ Pagers
■ Text messaging
■ A standard phone that does not need electricity
(most new phones, including cordless ones, need
to be plugged into an electrical outlet)
■ Cell phone
■ Low cost two -way radios
 ■ Ham radio

ROLE OF COMMUNITY OR PUBLIC HEALTH IN

DISASTER MANAGEMENT

What is Public Health?

The science and practice of protecting and improving the health

of a community, through :
– preventive medicine
– health education including mental health and nutrition
– control of communicable diseases
– application of sanitary measures, and monitoring of
environmental hazards.
(Source: American Heritage Definition)

• Population focused, not individual

• Assess health status of the population
• Develop and implement policy
• Promote access to health care

What is Public Health doing?

• Regularly Updates Key Agencies/Organizations with
Information and Resources
• Conducts Drills and Exercises
• Develops Information Messages for the Public
• Uses an Incident Command System
• Continually Trains Public Health Employees and the
Community on Emergency Response

Fundamental Obligations of Public Health Agencies

• Prevent epidemics and the spread of diseases

 • Protect against environmental hazards
• Promote good nutrition and
• Promote and encourage healthy behaviors and mental health
• Respond to disasters and assists communities in recovery

Health System

• -The combination of health care institutions, supporting

human resources, financing mechanisms, information
systems, organizational structures that link institutions and
resources, and management structures that collectively
culminate in the delivery of health services to patients.
(Lassey et al 1997)

Disasters and Public Health

• Summary of common health problems after disaster:
– Death and injuries
– Damage to health and facilities
– Population displacement –shelter overcrowding
– Increased risk to communicable disease
– Food and nutrition problems
– Water supply and sanitation needs
– Mental health & psychosocial needs
save

prevent

recover

Challenges of Public Health Emergency Managers

 • Policy gaps
• Information management
• Program implementation
• Logistics management
• Documentation
• Networking and coordination

Public Health functions during disaster differ from normal

in 2 important ways:
• Decisions and actions must occur on an accelerated time-
frame and with limited resources
• Response requires collaboration with other organizations
(many non-health: fire, law, public works)

Evaluating Effectiveness
• Constant evaluation is a key during response because you
are not afforded a second chance
• Make sure you are headed in the right direction; no second
disaster
• Rapid needs assessment – often regarded as “quick and
dirty” – are as important as post-event analyses and should
be implemented frequently
Improving Policy and Plans
• Legal and policy review of public health in a disaster
context is a crucial component in improving plans for
future disasters
• Laws about licensing and credentialing should also be
reviewed
• A policy to improve capacity for better respond to any
increased burder to illness and injury
• Good policy can ensure that ample preparation and
safeguards are in place for better response

Overall objective of DRRM from a public health perspective

• To assess the needs of the disaster-affected population
• To match available resources to the needs
• To prevent further adverse health effects
• To implement diseases control strategies for well-defined
problems
• To evaluate the effectiveness of disaster response program
• To improve contingency plans for any future disasters